Street Art in Rennes: a short route to find out more

To make the most of your exploration of the artworks, the route starts at the Pont Saint-Martin, which crosses the Canal d’Ille et Rance on Rue de Saint-Malo, opposite the HI Youth Hostel in Rennes. To get to the starting point, see § Practical information.

(S/E) The starting point for this description is on the right bank of the Canal d’Ille et Rance, i.e. the west side, near the restaurant L’essentiel.
Walk past the Écluse Saint-Martin and head towards the Pont Saint-Martin, which crosses the canal. Take a moment to admire the graffiti (Etiou); don’t hesitate to pop under the bridge for a quick look (a series of lettering pieces, Horus, Yoze).
Then cross the bridge and head east, following Rue de Saint-Malo without crossing it. Cross the Ille and continue to the next traffic light junction. Take a look at the Le Séquoia mural (War!).

(1) At the traffic lights, cross Rue de Saint-Malo and head back towards Pont Saint-Martin (series of graffiti on the left – Tribal Portraits by Héol). At the bridge, cross Boulevard de Chézy to get closer to the canal.
(You may wish to take a detour under the bridge – Opus–.)
Walk along the canal under the trees heading south-west. On the left, lettering (Horus) then La Libellule (War!).

Continue to the end of the École Nationale d’Architecture, on the banks of the Ille. Before crossing the Ille, note the bird boxes on the left. Then cross the Ille via the bridge.

(2) Immediately after the bridge, take the path on the left running alongside the river. Note the Grey Heron mural (War!). About a hundred metres further on, take the path on the right. Walk past the communal compost bins. 50 m further on, turn left to join Rue de Dinan.

As you come out onto Rue de Dinan, first turn right then left for 30 metres to take Ruelle des Chevaux, which heads east (towards the OPAR). After 50 metres, in the park, go through a low gate on the right and follow the semi-circular path upwards. Continue uphill until you reach another tall gate leading onto Rue de Saint-Malo.

(3) Turn right towards the junction with traffic lights and Rue de l’Hôtel Dieu. At the junction, cross Rue de l’Hôtel Dieu and follow Rue de Saint-Malo on the opposite side. As you cross, note the Hôtel Dieu mosaic on the^first-floor façade (Mifa Mosa). Also note, on Rue de Saint-Malo, the first house on the right near the traffic lights, the breast-shaped signature on the doorframe (Intra Larue).
All along Rue de Saint-Malo, keep an eye out for numerous points of graphic interest.

On the left, just before No. 42, a gate leads, beyond the porch, to a rear courtyard. Under the porch and in the courtyard, there are several graffiti pieces created by a resident of the courtyard (Eric Quemeneur) and other graffiti artists (Coralie). Starting from the courtyard on the right as you arrive, you can walk along the back of the houses to see more graffiti. Return to the porch and head left onto Rue de Saint-Malo.

On the right at No. 7, a tall gate leads into Ruelle Aux Chapeliers. Follow it gently downhill for 150 m to the entrance of Collège Échange on Rue Gaston Tardif. Take a look at the mural of La Grue (War!). Retrace your steps, turn right back onto Rue de Saint-Malo, where you’ll find scattered drawings – The Little Prince and Tinker Bell – by Karsher.

On the left at No. 18, a porch leads to a rear courtyard. Lots of graffiti and tags. Note under the porch the Eye (Cash) and the drawing (Denzzz). Don’t hesitate to go to the back, right then left: more graffiti (Yoze). Return to Rue de Saint-Malo and continue left.

Continue towards Place Sainte-Anne. Pass the Couvent des Jacobins on your right and go round the Basilica of Saint-Aubin to circle the square on the left. Note the Bigoudène at the Crêperie Sainte-Anne (Aéro). Several illustrations and mosaics.

(4) Turn left onto Rue du Penhoët (heading south) until you reach Place Rallier du Bati, then return to Place Sainte-Anne via Rue Saint-Yves. Several drawings and mosaics. Place Sainte-Anne marks the end of the tour.

To return to the starting point, take Rue de Saint-Malo, heading due north from the Couvent des Jacobins, following the reverse route of the outward journey.

(3) Continue straight on along Rue de Saint-Malo to the bridge.

(1) Cross the Ille and the canal, then turn right to return to the car park (S/E)

You can drive there via the slip road from Saint-Malo. Head towards the town centre without turning off. Just before Saint-Martin Church (traffic lights), turn left onto Rue de la Pompe towards the Cimetière du Nord. At the cemetery, head right towards the Canal d’Ille et Rance. Park before reaching the canal, or on Rue Armand Rebillon (turn left at the roundabout), which runs alongside the canal heading north on the right bank.
You can get there by public transport via the metro (Lines A or B). Get off at ‘Place Sainte-Anne’ station. You will then be at point (4) of the walk. It would be best to make your way back to the starting point as described in the final paragraphs, to return to Place Sainte-Anne

Allow 2 hours for walking, exploring and viewing the murals.

Before setting off, take a look at the 35 photos of the route on Visorando. Note the geolocation.

Place Sainte-Anne: all shops; public toilets; Metro lines A and B.

Graffiti artists spotted on the route: Yoze, Horus, Etiou, Opus, Héol, War, Mifa Mosa, Eric Quéméneur, Coralie, Denzzz, Intra Larue, Karsher, Ali, Cash, Thiago Ritual, T Tone, Flore Angèle, RNST, Souljadom, Aero.

Upstream from the Écluse Saint-Martin, you can extend the walk by strolling along the towpath; pedalos available for hire in summer.

Place Sainte-Anne: Jacobins Convent Museum. See the Rennes Métropole website.

More details on graffiti artists in Rennes: website.